Group lounge furniture

ABSTRACT

Improvements are disclosed for lounge furniture wherein a plurality of different furniture modules may be formed from a number of elements of identical construction to minimize the total number of parts required. The furniture modules may be ganged together into a unitary structure. A structure is also disclosed for a soft, luxurious yet strong cushion.

0 United States Patent l 1 1 (111 3,874,729 Blodee A r. l 1975 l 5 GROUP LOUNGE FURNITURE 3.3|0.343 3/I967 Schultz .t 297/445 3.3l8.635 5/l967 B cdki ct a. 4 297/445 Invent: 3.450.435 6/1969 Sti phcns..., 5. 297/445 x [73] Assignee: American Seating Company, Grand Rapids, Mich. Primar Examiner-Casmir A. Nunberg [22] Filed Dec 4 1973 Attorney. Agent. or Firm-Dawson, Tilton. Fallon &

' Lungmus [2|] Appl. No: 421,594

[57] ABSTRACT 7 1 a [52] US. Cl 297/445. fg77lffit4gl2. 79977//44 6ll, lmpmvemems are disclosed for lounge furniture [51] Int Cl 5 i 7/20 wherein a plurality of different furniture modules may [58] Fieid 797/446 be formed from a number of elements of identical 397/452 46' A 5/355 construction to minimize the total number of parts required. The furniture modules may be ganged together 56 R f d into a unitary structure. A structure is also disclosed l l uNlTED s szfr gs {:ZTENTS for a soft, luxurious yet strong cushion. 3.152.836 10/!964 Swan 297/445 6 Claims Drawing Figures BACKGROUND ANDSVM'MARY" The resent invention relate; to t'lpg l llltl llcill gfi,lli rlt niture: and more particularly. it relates lto llllpll lf meats in furniture modules. desks. wherein the modules are lorn|ed;ft;taa a minimum of structural elements which are used repeatedly to manufacture the different ntudules 'l'hc naid tles may then be formed into a unit. if desired.

in brief. achieved by means of a frame structure and cushion construction which cooperate to form a chair, and wherein a side leg structure is used as a common support means for two separate furniture modules conncctcd side by side. i

A chair. for esampie. has two side frames. each having an upright forward leg. at horilontal floor runner.

and an upright rear leg. The upper portion of the forward leg is formed reanvardly to provide a brace. and the upper portion of the rear leg is bent slightly rear wardl A connecting frame member completes the frame side by extending in a generally L-sltaped fashion between the upper portion of the front leg and the upper portion of the rear leg for each side frame ntemher: and it is used not only to form a rigid side frame. but to attach separate seat and back cushions and arm rests as well. if they are desired. The forward and rear legs ofeaeh side frame are provided with tabs which estend sideways: and these tabs or plates are used for securing stretchers to hold the frame together. or. alternatively. as connectors for adjacently positioned furni ture modules. i i

"l'he cushion structure. when it is used as eat cushion. lower back cushion or upper back cushion includes a support or foundation pan having upwardly turned sides and laterally extending ribs for' strength. The strengthening plate is spot welded to each of the up wardly turned sides: and a body of foam material is placed in the pan and estends well above it. A thin layer of fiberboard is placed beneath the ribbed pan: and the structure is then enveloped in a foam sheathing and covered with an exterior covering. The upwardly turned. strengthened sides of the pan are then used to secure the cushion to the connecting frame members extending between the forward and rear legs of the side frame structures of the chair.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment accompanied by the attached drawing wherein identical reference numerals will refer to like parts in the various views.

THE DRAWING FIG. I is a three-quarter frontal perspective view of a chair incorporating the present invention:

FIG. 2 isa three-quarter frontal perspective view of a frame for the chair of FIG. I taken from the other side: 4 FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an ottoman:

FIG. 4 is a three-quarter fr ont perspective view of-a second chair incorporating the'present invention; V

Flt i. 5 is a perspectiveview of ti closed arm rest; i J

whether thev hecfttiirs or the advantages of the present invention are (ti l v 'Flti. ua fmgunentarv sectional vietv of DETAILED DESC'RIP'I'lUN Referring to if i. la. the lounge chair 2" has a metal frame 21 tvitlfarn resis 22 formed tubular members bent into a closed path as shown in FIGS. l and 2. The frame memhe' cross section similar to the arm rest and including a rearwardly extending brace Zla. a front leg 2 lb. a runner Zlr. an upright rear leg Zltl. and a slightly rearwardl inelined portion lie. The arm rest may be omittcd asindicatcdin FIG. 12. or it may be closed with an inscrf :Lgshowh'in l-Ki. ll. The chair includes a seat anda back cushion 25.

'lhe embodiment of FIGS. l and 2 is referred to as a lowbac'lt lounge chair. A similar high back lounge chair 26 shownf'in FIG. 5 has a head rest cushion 27 in addiliott to the others.

The l'nuttc'ittclttdcs a right side chair side frame Zllr (FIG. 2). a left side chair side frame 291. a right side connector frame 29:. a left side connector frame 29!. and Front and rear stretchersllll; Each of the connector frt'm tes '29:. 29!. hav agcnerally horizontal seat portion attached to the hrack 21a. and an upwardly cstending hack portion attached to the inclined portion Zh-of the side frame 2|.

'Ihere are three types of chair side frames. right-hand 281-. left-hand 28!. and intermediate 32a tsee FIG. 7). 'lhe it refers to a side frame without arms as in FIGS. 6 and 7. 'lhe dilferences are determined by the location ofthe front and rear stretcher attachment plates or tabs designated 33 in FIG. 6. On a right-hand chair side frame 28a. the plates 33 are welded to the Ielt side of the leg tubes 34. iln a left-hand chair side frame 29:: the plates 35 are on the right side of the leg tubes 36. On an intermediate" chair side frame 32a. FIG. 7. the plates 37r and 37! are on the right and lelt sides respectively of the leg tube 38.

An armless chair side frame 32a. FIG. 7. includes a leg tube 38 shaped as described above and an l.-shaped connector frame or support bar 39. as also described. The connector frame is preferably a thin rectangular tube. whereas the side leg frames are square tubes.

AChtlil' side frame 28 or 29 with arm rests 22. FIG. 2' includesa leg frame 40 as described. an L-shaped connector framc 29l and an amt rest 22 having a metal bar frame 2 of trapezoidal cross section and a padded arm bloclt43. The amt rests are the same for any of the thrcetypes of chair side frames 28. 29 or 32. The closed arm rest 23 has a similar trapezoidal bar frame 44 and is padded on both sides 45 as well as the top 46. see FIG. 5: I

The difference between the connector frame members dlr. 4|! and 39 is the location of the holes 47 on 2-1 is formed of a tubular member of 3 the edge or edges for the cushion mounting pins-l8. The right-hand support bar -tlr has the mounting pin holes 471 drilled and tapped on its left edge. see FIG. 2. the left-hand support bar -lll has the mounting pin holes 47ron its right edge. when used to connect two chair modules side by side. the intermediate support bar 39 has the mounting pin holes 47w and 47! drilled and tapped on both sides l'orthe mounting pin locations 481' and 48! and the chair side frame as seen in FKi. '7

as at 32a.

The support bars -l lr. 4i! and 39 are drilled on their wider. upper surfaces for the attachment of the arm rests. The open arm rests 22 and the closed arm rests 23 are positioned away from the support bars by spacers-W over long screws turned into blind tapped holes in the arm rest bar 42. When a table is inserted in a chair group. as in FIG. In. H there are no exposed holes on the upper side edges as at 50, of the connector frames over the table top 51.

Turning now to the table unit of FIG. 7. it may he made an integral part of a row of chairs. The unit includes table top and table frame 52 with two tabs 53 at the rear mounting hole locations 54 so the table top will be level because the lower portion 55 of the suport bars slope downwardly toward the rear. as described above. Mounting bolts 56. washers S7 and 58. and spacers 59 attach the table frame 52 to the support bars 39. if the table top St is wood or a similar substance. it is fastened to the table frame 52 with several screws (ill. II the top is glass or similar substance. it is fastened to the frznne with adhesive. in the latter case. there need not he any screw holes us at 60 for the top attachment.

Turning now to FIG. 6. the slretchcrs 30 are channels with screw holes 68 tsee Nttt stretcher) through the inside wall 69 only. The stretcheis 30 are attached to the plates 35 of one side frame 290. with screws 70 and washers It. A pair of mounting pins 48r are inserted into the holes-Hr of the support bar 4 1! comprising the connector frame member. The cushions 24 and 25 are slipped onto the mounting pins 48r. The mounting pins 48! are turned into the support bar 4t:- of the other side frame 28a. then the frame is pushed toward the cashions so that the mounting pins will slip into the grommets 72 and hollow retainer clips 79 (see FIG. Hit in the cushions and the attachment plates 33 will slide into the ends of the channel stretchers 30. The channels are then fastened to the plates with screws 70 and washers It. as already described.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9. the construction of the cushions will he described. The whole cushion 73 and the weight of the' occupant are supported by the cushion foundation or pan 14 which is steel. The port 74 is provided with two or four stiffening ribs 75 depending upon its fore-und-aft dimension, and is turned upward on both ends at 76 with two holes 77- in each end. just above the ends of two of the ribs 75. There is a steel reinforcement plate 78 attached to each end of the cushion foundation 74 by spot welding. Hollow rctainer clips 79 are inserted through holes '80 and into holes 77. When the cushion is placed into a chair frame amounting pin 48 (FIG. l2] rests inside ol'euch ofthc four hollow retainer clips 79. i

A piece of fiberboard 8| rests against the cushion foundation on its bottom side. A pad of shredded and bonded foam 82 is placed onto the cushion pan. then a plastic foam pad 83 is placed on top. The whole grouping of parts is then wrapped with a fiber covering pad 84.

The entire cushion is then enveloped h v a cover 85 having a zipper 8h sewn into it on the bottom side of the hack cushion 25 and the head rest cushion 27. or the back' side of the -at cushion 24. There is also a we ll core 87 attached to the top or front of the cushion. A grommet till and washer ll) (FIG. lit are inserted at each opening 90 on the sides of the cushion. to be aligned later with the retainer clips 79 when the mounting pins 48 are inserted. The cover 85 is pulled over the parts ofthe cushion and the zipper is closed. If desired. tufting buttons 9! on nylon cord 92 may he added to the cushion on both sides. The construction olall cushions is similar. The size depends upon the type of cashion: whether it is a seat cushion. a back cushion. or a head rest cushion. The back cushion 25 and head rest cushion 2.7 have two tul'ting buttons 9t and two ribs 75 in the cushion foundation. while the seat cushion 24 and ottoman cushion have four tul'ling buttons and four ribs in the cushion foundation.

The'mounling pin 48. FIG. Ill. consists of a short threaded portion 93. a shoulder rib 94. a long smooth cylinder portion 95 with a groove 96. and a slot 97 in the end for a screwdriver.

FIG. 8 shows one method of attaching a cushion foundation 74 and reinforcement plate 78 to a support bar 98 by turning the mounting pin 48 into the threaded hole 47. and then pushing the cushion so that the mounting pin slides into the hollow retainer clip 79.

FIG. 9 shows an alternate method of inserting a retaincr clip 99 into a larger hole Hill in the support bar 98. threading the mounting pin into the reinforcement plate 78 and cushion foundation. and pushing the mounting pin into the retainer clip.

Having thus described in detail a preferred embodiment of the present invention. persons skilled in the art will be able to modify certain of the structure which has been illustrated and to substitute equivalent elements for those disclosed while continuing to practice the principle of the invention: and it is. therefore. intended that all such tnodilications and substitutions be cove red as they are embraced within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

I. A chair comprising first and second side frames of tubular metal. each fornting a front leg. at rcarwardly extending brace at the top of said front leg. a floorengaging runner at the bottom of said front leg. an upwardlt. extending rear leg. and a slightly rcarwardly extending portion at the top of said rear leg: first and second connector frame members having a generally l.- shupe. each connected to an associated side frame at the brace and the upper portion of said rear leg thereof; an inwardly extending tab on each leg; first and second channel-shaped strctchers extending respectively between the tabs on the pair of front legs and the tabs on the pair of rear legs: a seat cushion extending bctwen the generally horizontal portions of said connector members; and a back cushion extending between the generally upright portions of said connector members; each of said cushions comprising a metal pan having upwardly turned side portions. :1 body of foam filling said pan and cstending above the upper edges of said sides thereof; a sheet of foam material encompassing said body and said pun; first and second strengthening plate members connected respectively to the upwardly 5 l 7 turned sides of said pan: and fastener means for attaching the sides of said pan to an associated connector frame members through an associated strengthening plate.

2. The structure ol claim I wherein said pan is transversely ribbed for strength. and wherein said cushion further comprises a sheet of rigid material interposed between the ribs of said pan antlsaid sheeting.

3. The apparatus of claim I wherein said fasteners comprise a pin having a threaded end and an insert end.

the threaded end thereof being connected either to said pan or to said connector frame. and thcother end of said pin being received in an annular sleeve fitted into the other of said .pan or SillllLUlll'lL'L'lOl' member.

4. The apparatus of claim I further comprising arm rest means including a closed tubular member conforming to the shape of an associated connector frame member and secured thereto. an upright forward portion and a horizontal arm portion.

5. The apparatus olclaim I herein at least one oi said side frame members is provided \\llll a pairol' outwardly extending tabs adjacent respectively of said lo|'-' ward and rear legs tltereol: and I'urther comprising a second furniture module secured to said ouhvardly cxtending tabs of said side frame member.

6. A plurality olchairs connected side-by-side. contprising tnst and second side frames and an intertnediate frame of tubular metal. each frame forming a front leg. at rearwardly extending brace at the to of d from leg. at l'loor-engaging runner at the bottom of said tiont leg. an upwardly extending rear leg. and a slightly rearnardly extending portion at the top oi said rear leg: a connector l'ramc member having a generally L-shapc connected to each frame at the brace and the upper portion of said rear leg thereof: an inwardly extending tab on each leg of said side frames and a pair of laterally extending tabs on each leg of said intermediate frame; first and second channel-slntped stretehers extending respecthely between the tabson the front legs and the tabs on the pair of rear legs: a seat cushion -l'or each chair extending between the generally horizontal portions ol said connector members on the associated chair: and a back cushion for each chair connected between the generally upright portions of said connector members for each chair. 

1. A chair comprising first and second side frames of tubular metal, each forming a front leg, a rearwardly extending brace at the top of said front leg, a floor-engaging runner at the bottom of said front leg, an upwardly extending rear leg, and a slightly rearwardly extending portion at the top of said rear leg; first and second connector frame members having a generally L-shape, each connected to an associated side frame at the brace and the upper portion of said rear leg thereof; an inwardly extending tab on each leg; first and second channel-shaped stretchers extending respectively between the tabs on the pair of front legs and the tabs on the pair of rear legs; a seat cushion extending betwen the generally horizontal portions of said connector members; and a back cushion extending between the generally upright portions of said connector members; each of said cushions comprising a metal pan having upwardly turned side portions; a body of foam filling said pan and extending above the upper edges of said sides thereof; a sheet of foam material encompassing said body and said pan; first and second strengthening plate members connected respectively to the upwardly turned sides of said pan; and fastener means for attaching the sides of said pan to an associated connector frame members through an associated strengthening plate.
 2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said pan is transversely ribbed for strength, and wherein said cushion further comprises a sheet of rigid material interposed between the ribs of said pan and said sheeting.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fasteners comprise a pin having a threaded end and an insert end, the threaded end thereof being connected either to said pan or to said connector frame, and the other end of said pin being received in an annular sleeve fitted into the other of said pan or said connector member.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising arm rest means including a closed tubular member conforming to the shape of an associated connector frame member and secured thereto, an upright forward portion and a horizontal arm portion.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of said side frame members is provided with a pair of outwardly extending tabs adjacent respectively of said forward and rear legs thereof; and further comprising a second furniture module secured to said outwardly-extending tabs of said side frame member.
 6. A plurality of chairs connected side-by-side, comprising first and second side frames and an intermediate frame of tubular metal, each frame forming a front leg, a rearwardly extending brace at the top of said front leg, a floor-engaging runner at the bottom of said front leg, an upwardly extending rear leg, and a slightly rearwardly extending portion At the top of said rear leg; a connector frame member having a generally L-shape connected to each frame at the brace and the upper portion of said rear leg thereof; an inwardly extending tab on each leg of said side frames and a pair of laterally extending tabs on each leg of said intermediate frame; first and second channel-shaped stretchers extending respectively between the tabs on the front legs and the tabs on the pair of rear legs; a seat cushion for each chair extending between the generally horizontal portions of said connector members on the associated chair; and a back cushion for each chair connected between the generally upright portions of said connector members for each chair. 